By-Laws

ARTICLE I. DUES Section 1. All dues shall be payable by February 15th of each year.

Section 2. The annual dues shall be established by the members of the Association. Proposed changes in the annual dues must be submitted by the Executive Committee to the membership for majority vote.

ARTICLE II. FISCAL YEAR Section 1. The fiscal year for the Association shall be the calendar year.

ARTICLE III. STANDING COMMITTEES Section 1. The Association shall maintain the following standing committees, whose chairs shall be appointed by the Executive Committee (unless otherwise noted below) and who will report their committeesí activities to the Association at the annual business meeting:

A. Literature Review Committee. The Literature Review Committee shall consist of the Assistant Editor, who shall serve as the Chair, and at least two other members appointed by the Chair. Term of office for the Chair and other committee members shall be continuous until resignation or revocation by the Executive Committee. The Literature Review Committee shall prepare literature reviews for the Florida Benthological Newsletter.

B. Editorial Committee. The Committee shall consist of the Editor (who shall be the Chair), the Assistant Editor, and at least one other member of the Association appointed by the Chair. Term of office for the Chair and other committee members shall be continuous until resignation or revocation by the Executive Committee. The Editor shall be responsible for the management and operation of the Associationís publications, operating under policies established by the Executive Committee. He/She shall serve as the Editor for the Florida Benthological Newsletter. The Editor shall submit an annual report of the activities of the Association publications. The Editor and Assistant Editor shall serve as members of the Executive Committee. The Editorial Committee shall be responsible for policy concerning Association publications not otherwise covered by the By-Laws and will oversee the production of such publications.

C. Awards Committee. The Awards Committee shall consist of the outgoing Immediate Past President , who shall serve as Chair, two Past Presidents of the Association, and at least two other members appointed by the Chair. The Chairís term of office shall be two years. Memberís term of office shall be two years with the possibility of renewal at the discretion of the committee Chair. The duty of the Committee shall be to select a suitable recipient for the Florida Association of Benthologistsí Award of Excellence or other awards from nominations submitted to the Committee. A recipient may be chosen annually. His/Her selection shall require a unanimous vote by the committee.

D. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Immediate-Past President, who shall serve as the Chair, and at least two other members appointed by the Chair. Term of office for the Chair and other committee members shall be for two years. The Nominating Committee shall nominate candidates to be elected into office.

E. By-Laws Committee. The By-Laws Committee shall consist of a Chair and at least two other members appointed by the Chair. Term of office for the Chair and other committee members shall be continuous until resignation or revocation by the Executive Committee. The Committee shall review the Constitution and By-Laws as needed. Changes to the Constitution and By-Laws shall be made as stated in Article IX of the Constitution.

F. Membership Committee. The Membership Committee shall consist of the Treasurer, who shall serve as Chair and at least two other members appointed by the Chair. Term of office for the Chair and other committee members shall be continuous until resignation or revocation by the Executive Committee. The Membership Committee shall develop rules for managing the membership list, manage the list, and recruit new members.

G. Internet Committee. The Internet Committee shall consist of a Chair and at least two other members appointed by the Chair. Term of office for the Chair and other committee members shall be continuous until resignation or revocation by the Executive Committee. The committee shall develop and maintain a FAB website. The committee will also review submissions for posting and update the website. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for approving web contents. Members of the Internet Committee must have full access to the Internet via web browsers.

H. Endowment Fund Committee. The Endowment Fund Committee shall consist of a Chair and at least two other members appointed by the Chair. Term of office for the Chair and other committee members shall be continuous until resignation or revocation by the Executive Committee. The Endowment Fund Committee shall establish and maintain guidelines of the operation of the Endowment Fund, promote the Endowment Fund, and advise the Executive Committee in all matters pertaining to the operation of the Endowment Fund, including investment of moneys and designation of specific endowment funds. Specific responsibilities of the Endowment Fund Committee are described in the Executive Summary of the FAB Endowment Fund Policy.

I. Workshop and Certification Committee. The Workshop and Certification Committee shall consist of the President-Elect, who shall serve as the Chair, and at least two other members appointed by the Chair. Term of office for the Chair shall be two-years. The terms of the other committee members shall be continuous until resignation or revocation by the Chair or Executive Committee. The Workshop and Certification Committee shall develop plans and guidelines for structuring and operating workshops and explore ways in which attendees may receive credit or certification for attending a workshop and demonstrating knowledge of the subject presented. The Chair shall present the findings or recommendations of the Workshop and Certification Committee to the Executive Committee for further action.

ARTICLE IV. SPECIAL COMMITTEES Section 1. Special committees, including study committees, may be appointed by the President or the Executive Committee. Special committees will normally have a life of one year and will be dissolved at the time of the annual business meeting. Chairmen of special committees will be appointed by the President.

ARTICLE V. PUBLICATIONS Section 1. The publication of the Association shall be the Florida Benthological Newsletter, which shall be printed in one or more issues throughout the year. Other publications of the Association may be issued periodically. The Editor shall be responsible for the management and operation of the Associationís publications operating under policies established by the Executive Committee. The Editor shall oversee the finances of the Associationís publications, working jointly with the Treasurer.

ARTICLE VI. AWARDS Section 1. The Florida Association of Benthologists Award of Excellence may be presented annually to a recipient for outstanding contributions to benthic science. The scope of the award shall reflect the broad interests and expertise exhibited in the Association, but the award shall not be limited to members of the Association. A suitable candidate shall be chosen from nominations submitted to the Awards Committee. Other awards that may be appropriate under special circumstances may be offered, subject to approval by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII. ENDOWMENT FUNDS Section 1. The Florida Association of Benthologists Endowment Fund for Scientific Research and Education (Endowment Fund) shall promote various aspects of benthic biology exclusively for scientific and educational purposes. Endowment funds shall be managed by the Endowment Fund Committee in consultation with the Executive Committee in accordance with the FAB Endowment Fund Policy. The accounts of the Endowment Fund shall be managed by the Treasurer of the Association who shall keep all Endowment Fund moneys in accounts meeting the requirements described in the FAB Endowment Fund Policy. The accounts shall be audited at the close of each fiscal year. The auditorís report and an interim financial statement shall be presented to the Association at the annual meeting. The Endowment Committee in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall have the power to receive grants, gifts, contributions, and other sums of like nature; and to receive and hold, sell, and resell property (real, personal, or mixed), without limitations to its value, under the provisions of this By-Law and the FAB Endowment Fund Policy. Contributions and other sums of like nature, as specified in the preceding sentence, that are received for specific purposes shall be administered in accordance with the wishes of their donors if compatible with the purposes and activities of the Association. Awards, prizes, and recurring special programs shall, in general, be supported by the General Endowment Fund and by specific endowments, as appropriate with the constraints of the donorís wishes. The Endowment Committee, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall establish specific endowment funds. Contributions and other sums of like nature, as specified previously in this paragraph, that are received with no special designation normally shall be placed in the General Endowment Fund.

ARTICLE VIII. RULES OF ORDER Section 1. The rules contained in the most current of Robertís Rules of Order shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the constitution or By-Laws of this Association.

CHANGES TO THE FAB CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

VERSION

TYPE OF CHANGE

BY-LAWS COMMITTEE CHAIR

DATE APPROVED

1996

Major changes in format by splitting the old constitution into Constitution and By-Laws sections, and language changes.

Changes in Constitution Article V. Officers to increase At-Large members of Executive Committee to three (preferably one from industry/business); By-Laws Article III-D. Nominating Committee to have Immediate-Past President serve as chair.

Marc C. Minno

8 December 2000, Mote Marine Lab, Sarasota, FL

2001

Changes in Constitution Article V, Section II Executive Committee terms shall be three years or until the incumbent is renewed or a successor appointed.

By-Laws Article IIIWorkshop and Certification Committee established

Marc C. Minno

7 December 2001

Cedar Key Field Lab, Cedar Key, FL

2004

Changed Constitution Article IV, by adding Section 5 on lifetime membership and Article VI, modifying Section 1 to make the Immediate Past President Chair of the Nominating Committee.

Changed By-Laws, Article III, by modifying introduction and Section 1 to make the Assistant Editor Chair of the Literature Review Committee.

Marc C. Minno

17 December 2004

Archbold Biological Station, Lake Placid, FL

2006

Constitution Article IV, Section 5.

Marc C. Minno

14 December 2006

Ed Yarborough Nature Center, Geneva, FL

2009

Changed Constitution Article 8 Section 4 to give President and President-Elect rather than the Executive Committee power to select meeting places and added that notice of the Annual Meeting will also be posted on the FAB website.

Changed By-Laws Article I to have dues received after Nov 30th rather than October 1st credited to the next year.

Changed By-Laws Article VIII to state that FAB shall be governed by most current edition of Robertís Rules of Order.